Tokyo, 13 Apr (Xinhua) -- A feature on "The treatment of nuclear-contaminated water cannot be arbitrarily claimed by the Japanese government" -- Japanese people rally to protest the plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea
Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Guang Yue Chenxing
On April 13, in Tokyo, Japan, people held signs in front of the Second House of Representatives Hall of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet to participate in a rally in protest. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Chenxing
Two years ago today, the Japanese government ignored domestic and international opposition and decided to discharge millions of tons of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea. Since this decision was announced, the Japanese people have held many rallies to protest. On the 13th, some Japanese people held a rally near the Japanese Diet to protest the Japanese government's plan to advance the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea.
According to reports, about 120 people attended the rally in front of the Second Members' Hall of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet that day. The reporter saw at the scene that the protesters covered all ages, and they held signs such as "Do not let nuclear-contaminated water pollute the sea" and "Do not spill poison into the sea". Around the live speakers, the crowd shouted from time to time.
On April 13, in Tokyo, Japan, people held signs in front of the Second House of Representatives Hall of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet to participate in a rally in protest. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Chenxing
Miyako Kumamoto, 80, who attended the rally at the rally, moved to Fukushima Prefecture after her retirement, but was forced to escape in Tokyo after the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. People who share the same experience have established the "Evacuation Coordination Center" to support each other, and Ms. Kumamoto is a member of the center.
She said she wanted to retire and enjoy a rural life in Fukushima Prefecture, but the nuclear accident not only destroyed the lives of local residents, but also endangered those who depend on the sea. We should not remain silent about the Japanese government's decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, and should actively speak out against it, saying that "the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water cannot be left to the discretion of the Japanese government."
On April 13, in Tokyo, Japan, people held signs in front of the Second House of Representatives Hall of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet to participate in a rally in protest. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Chenxing
Yoshiko Furukawa, who gave a speech at the scene, could not hide her excitement, and her trembling voice was constantly amplified. She said she used to live in Tomioka-cho, Fukushima Prefecture, near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. "While discharging the contaminated water accumulated in Fukushima into the sea may allow us to return home sooner, I don't want people to point at me and say, 'The contaminated water was drained from near her home.'"
Inoue Nenhiro, the organizer of the rally, said that people near Tokyo were here today, and similar rallies are now being held across Japan, some initiated by individuals and some organized by groups. In the past two years, people have launched various signatures, rallies, marches and protests, and held online study sessions on nuclear contaminated water to popularize knowledge about the dangers of nuclear contaminated water.
On April 13, in Tokyo, Japan, people held signs in front of the Second House of Representatives Hall of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet to participate in a rally in protest. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Chenxing
Inoue said that the contaminated water must be stored to minimize its radioactivity, and then discuss with the rest of the world how to deal with it. "If the contaminated water is easily allowed to be discharged into the sea this time, then in the future, as long as there is nuclear pollution, it will be thrown into the sea."
On April 13, 2021, the Japanese government officially decided to filter, dilute and discharge millions of tons of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea. In January 2023, the Japanese government set the discharge date of Fukushima's contaminated water as "the spring and summer of this year."
On April 13, in Tokyo, Japan, people held signs in front of the Second House of Representatives Hall of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet to participate in a rally in protest. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Chenxing
A man holds a sign in front of the Second Members' Hall of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet in protest in Tokyo, Japan, April 13. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Chenxing